In this time of Lent, let us learn the lesson of remaining silent, trusting, obeying, and waiting on the Lord. As the Psalmist said, “I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this.”(Psalm 39:9) What God has done is love. But love demands a terrible burden.
I. Consider this demand which love makes: “Love bears all things.” Another way of articulating this truth is: “Love can overlook faults.” Still another way of saying this is: “Love is not quick to anger and slow to expose wrongs” The idea suggested here is that love is intelligent. It knows that there is a time to expose and a time to refrain from exposing, a time to speak and a time to refrain from speaking. Love is sensitive. It knows how to be silent in moments of great suffering.
(a) To say that love knows when to remain silent is not to belittle speech. Words are the vehicles for feelings and ideas that link soul to soul. I have the greatest admiration for those who are skilled in the gift of the right use of words. But words are powerful and can be dangerous. There are emotionally charged words that can excite to violence or that can rob another human being of his will to live. And there are great empowering words which, spoken at the right time, can heal and inspire.
(b) Paul tells us that love knows how to overlook faults, to keep silent in those moments when it would be far easier to form words to vent our anger or disappointment. Every parent knows that there are times in relationship to the growing child when the temptation to speak in anger is great. And surely everyone must fail, perhaps many times, to live up to the high standard. But after each failure love will rededicate itself to the high resolve: bear all things; overlook faults, slow to expose. “Ah, the terrible burden of love!”
(c) This dimension of love that calls upon us to bear all things is a hard saying, but then the best things of life are bought with a price. As one psychiatrist says, “It is easier to hate, but healthier to love.” What is needed is a religion that knows how to be firm without being inflexible; that hates the sin but loves the sinner; that is able to forgive and trust and respects the person who is different from us. This is the love that bears all things.
II. There is a further dimension to love that we must consider: “Love hopeth all things” In other words, “Love is always hopeful.” It never gives up. The good father is always hopeful that the prodigal son will come home again. Man cannot live without hope. He must always be able to hope that in any difficulty things will right themselves.
(a) No wonder that the other name we have for God is love. For love is the spirit of hope brooding over the darkness, coaxing light out of the shadows, giving form to that which is without form and void. It is the force that holds the world together, the organizing principle.
(b) Love is the positive force, playing over the darkness, yet never giving up. Even over the grave love never ends. After everything visible has been telescoped into the invisible, three things abide, faith, hope, love, but the greatest is love. It never gives up; it always begins again.
(c) When the wholeness of life is threatened love is the silent cohesive force that is always hopeful. It is the greatest force for good in the world. In the language of John the loving disciple of Christ, it was said, “Love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God.” So we confidently say, “Our hope is in God,” for God is love and love never ends.
Amen
Synopsis
What God has done is love. But love demands a terrible burden.
I. Love bears all things. Love is sensitive. It knows how to be silent in moments of great suffering.
(a) To say that love knows when to remain silent is not to belittle speech.
(b) Paul tells us that love knows how to overlook faults, to keep silent in those moments when it would be far easier to form words to vent our anger or disappointment.
(c) It is easier to hate, but healthier to love.
II. Love is always hopeful. It never gives up.
(a) It is the force that holds the world together, the organizing principle.
(b) Three things abide, faith, hope, love, but the greatest is love.
(c) Love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God.
讲道大纲
上帝为人所作的都是爱。但爱的负担是很沉重的。
I. 爱是凡事包容。它懂得在最痛苦的时候，默然不语。
甲． 默然不语不是贬低言语的能力。
乙． 不计算人的恶，就是不因人的错动怒。
丙． 憎恨叫你发泄，但爱叫你健康。
II. 爱是凡事盼望。它永不放弃。
甲． 它是把整个世界维系和组织的原则。
乙． 如今长存的有信望爱，其中最大的是爱。
丙． 上帝是爱，爱的人都是由上帝而生的并且认识上帝。
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sermon Date: 2009/3/22
DATE: 2009/3/22
SCRIPTURE READING: I Corinthians 13:1-6
SERMON: Do What the Word Says
講道題目: 聽道行道
The Bible said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”(James 1:22) God’s word is for us to do. Not for us to hear only. Paul said, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”(I Corinthians 13: 1-3) We heed what the word says by doing what love demands.
I. Paul tells us that love is faithful to the end. “Love is patient, long suffering and is kind.” It never gives up. It is the eternal spirit brooding over life’s brokenness, bringing light out of darkness, reducing chaos to order. Paul does not say that love is never discouraged, never makes mistakes; he simply says, “Love never ends.” It is deathless.
(a) During the excavations of the ruins of Pompeii it is reported that the workers came upon the skeletal remains of a mother and her child, with the mother’s arm under the child. There in the darkness and the dust, through centuries and centuries they lay, symbolic of the unending love of a good mother. “Ah, the terrible burden of love!”
(b) In the story of the prodigal son the father knew the dreadful burden of love. After months and months of wandering in a foreign environment, spending his resources foolishly against his father’s wishes, the lad came to himself. We are told that in the travail of his soul he decided to go back home, and hopefully he might be accepted as one of his father’s servants. What happened upon his return? The father saw him at a distance and went out to meet him. The love that had suffered long was patient and kind. What an opportunity to have chastised the lad! But there was not a word of bitterness. “Love keeps no score of wrongs.” For love it was a time to rejoice. “This is my son who was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” The family once broken was made whole again. And that which made it whole again was the endless love of a good father who had suffered long and was patient and kind. “Ah, the terrible burden of love!”
II. Let us note another dimension of love: “Love believes all things.” To some this may seem like credulity. The person who literally believes all things must be confused; a weak mind that is easily exploited. In the original Greek it helps us to a clearer understanding of Paul’s thinking. “Love is always eager to believe the best.” That makes sense.
(a) Admittedly this is a difficult standard to embrace. Psychologists have shown us that there is something within our nature which makes it easy for us to believe the worst. We have an appetite for bad news. At worst we may become scandalmongers and gossipers, dispensers of half- truths. There is something within human nature that makes it easy for us to rejoice in the failure of another human being. It was against such temptation that Jesus directed his warning, “Judge not lest you be judged.”
(b) This tendency to believe the worst has more than individual application. There are some who look at the whole of life in this manner. It is a destructive approach to life. But love, not blind to the failures and weaknesses of man, is always eager to believe the best. This is the creative force in life. Love begets love; it evokes good will and trust. Jesus was aware of the creative nature of love. He encouraged his disciples to take the tiny seeds of love and faith and hope and to nurture them so that they could multiply and conquer the evils of hate and discord.
(c) When Jesus selected those who would be most closely associated with him in kingdom work, he looked for people with obvious weaknesses as well as strength. Peter, a rough, impulsive man, under the love and teachings of the master blossomed into greatness of character. Love that is eager to believe the best is the redemptive force that often saves us from surrendering to the beast that is within us. We draw strength from those about us who are eager to believe the best about us.
A good and genuine Christian is distinguished from a bad and false one not by how much word he listened but by how much love he practiced. God’s word is not just knowledge that comes out from our mind. It is love from within that comes out through faith and through help from the power of the Holy Spirit. One day when we come before God, he will ask us not how much word we have heard but how much love we have practiced. Amen
Sermon Synopsis:
The Bible said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”(James 1:22) Paul said, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal。” We heed what the word says by doing what love demands.
I. Love is patient, long suffering and is kind.
(a) Symbol of the unending love of a good mother.
(b) In the story of the prodigal son the father knew the dreadful burden of love.
II. Love believes all things.
(a) It is easy for us to believe the worst
(b) Love, not blind to the failures and weaknesses of man, is always eager to believe the best.
(c) We draw strength from those about us who are eager to believe the best about us.
One day when we come before God, he will ask us not how much word we have heard but how much love we have practiced.
讲道大纲
圣经上说，"只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。"（雅1：22）保罗说，"我若能说万人的方言，并天使的话语，却没有爱，我就成了鸣的锣，响的钹一般。"（林前13：1）我们听道後，是要用爱把它行出来的。
I. 爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈。
甲． 母亲的爱永不止息。
乙． 浪子的父亲忍耐到底。
II. 爱是凡事相信。
甲． 我们都喜欢信最坏的事情。
乙． 爱不是盲目的不看人类的失败和弱点，而是凡事相信人的好处。
丙． 我们是在相信我们的人面前得到力量的。
有一天我们站在上帝面前，上帝不会问我们听了多少道，却会问我们行了多少爱！
Pastoral Prayer:
O almighty God, from whom every good prayer comes, and who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and supplication, deliver us, when we draw nigh to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thought and kindled affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth.
In this time of global economic recession we pray for patience of endurance. Experts predict that the recovery time may take months to a year or two. This is scary and we pray for your peace that can drive away fear. As more and more people are being laid off, and more and more people are desperately looking for jobs, we pray Lord that you would open up the resources so that they can find what they look for. We know many of our parishioners are seeking jobs. Give them guidance and directions that they know where to get hold of their opportunity. And when it takes time for them to see results, let them not be in despair but fill their hearts with hope and perseverance.
O Lord, open our eyes, that we may see the needs of others. Open our hearts, that they need not be without help. Let us not be afraid to defend the weak because of the strong, not afraid to defend the poor because of the rich. Show us where love and hope are needed, and use us to bring them to those places. Open our eyes and ears, that this day we may do some work of peace for you.
We pray for the new leadership of this church. We are thankful that new council is formed, and new ministries are starting out. We pray for the new Sunday school English adult class led by Brother Miguel Stack. We look forward to the young adults having more opportunity of receiving spiritual nourishment in this new program. We pray for the new series of home fellowship, where upon a systematic Bible study and discipleship training course will be launched. We are thankful that younger Sunday School children are having good religious training and they are presenting what they’ve learned and share with us through their songs in the service. We are excited about all these and many other programs and ask that God will bless our leaders to continue equipping our members in this meaningful way.
We are thankful Lord for keeping our parishioners safe during their travel. We are happy that the family of Joe Wong and Xu Dunqi have finished their vacation and are worshipping with us again in the service. As we travel in a world that sometimes seems a trackless, hostile wilderness, we ask that your Spirit sustain, encourage, and enable us to go on.
Let us recite the Lord’s Prayer now…
Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: I Corinthians 13:1-6
SERMON: Do What the Word Says
講道題目: 聽道行道
The Bible said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”(James 1:22) God’s word is for us to do. Not for us to hear only. Paul said, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”(I Corinthians 13: 1-3) We heed what the word says by doing what love demands.
I. Paul tells us that love is faithful to the end. “Love is patient, long suffering and is kind.” It never gives up. It is the eternal spirit brooding over life’s brokenness, bringing light out of darkness, reducing chaos to order. Paul does not say that love is never discouraged, never makes mistakes; he simply says, “Love never ends.” It is deathless.
(a) During the excavations of the ruins of Pompeii it is reported that the workers came upon the skeletal remains of a mother and her child, with the mother’s arm under the child. There in the darkness and the dust, through centuries and centuries they lay, symbolic of the unending love of a good mother. “Ah, the terrible burden of love!”
(b) In the story of the prodigal son the father knew the dreadful burden of love. After months and months of wandering in a foreign environment, spending his resources foolishly against his father’s wishes, the lad came to himself. We are told that in the travail of his soul he decided to go back home, and hopefully he might be accepted as one of his father’s servants. What happened upon his return? The father saw him at a distance and went out to meet him. The love that had suffered long was patient and kind. What an opportunity to have chastised the lad! But there was not a word of bitterness. “Love keeps no score of wrongs.” For love it was a time to rejoice. “This is my son who was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” The family once broken was made whole again. And that which made it whole again was the endless love of a good father who had suffered long and was patient and kind. “Ah, the terrible burden of love!”
II. Let us note another dimension of love: “Love believes all things.” To some this may seem like credulity. The person who literally believes all things must be confused; a weak mind that is easily exploited. In the original Greek it helps us to a clearer understanding of Paul’s thinking. “Love is always eager to believe the best.” That makes sense.
(a) Admittedly this is a difficult standard to embrace. Psychologists have shown us that there is something within our nature which makes it easy for us to believe the worst. We have an appetite for bad news. At worst we may become scandalmongers and gossipers, dispensers of half- truths. There is something within human nature that makes it easy for us to rejoice in the failure of another human being. It was against such temptation that Jesus directed his warning, “Judge not lest you be judged.”
(b) This tendency to believe the worst has more than individual application. There are some who look at the whole of life in this manner. It is a destructive approach to life. But love, not blind to the failures and weaknesses of man, is always eager to believe the best. This is the creative force in life. Love begets love; it evokes good will and trust. Jesus was aware of the creative nature of love. He encouraged his disciples to take the tiny seeds of love and faith and hope and to nurture them so that they could multiply and conquer the evils of hate and discord.
(c) When Jesus selected those who would be most closely associated with him in kingdom work, he looked for people with obvious weaknesses as well as strength. Peter, a rough, impulsive man, under the love and teachings of the master blossomed into greatness of character. Love that is eager to believe the best is the redemptive force that often saves us from surrendering to the beast that is within us. We draw strength from those about us who are eager to believe the best about us.
A good and genuine Christian is distinguished from a bad and false one not by how much word he listened but by how much love he practiced. God’s word is not just knowledge that comes out from our mind. It is love from within that comes out through faith and through help from the power of the Holy Spirit. One day when we come before God, he will ask us not how much word we have heard but how much love we have practiced. Amen
Sermon Synopsis:
The Bible said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”(James 1:22) Paul said, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal。” We heed what the word says by doing what love demands.
I. Love is patient, long suffering and is kind.
(a) Symbol of the unending love of a good mother.
(b) In the story of the prodigal son the father knew the dreadful burden of love.
II. Love believes all things.
(a) It is easy for us to believe the worst
(b) Love, not blind to the failures and weaknesses of man, is always eager to believe the best.
(c) We draw strength from those about us who are eager to believe the best about us.
One day when we come before God, he will ask us not how much word we have heard but how much love we have practiced.
讲道大纲
圣经上说，"只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。"（雅1：22）保罗说，"我若能说万人的方言，并天使的话语，却没有爱，我就成了鸣的锣，响的钹一般。"（林前13：1）我们听道後，是要用爱把它行出来的。
I. 爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈。
甲． 母亲的爱永不止息。
乙． 浪子的父亲忍耐到底。
II. 爱是凡事相信。
甲． 我们都喜欢信最坏的事情。
乙． 爱不是盲目的不看人类的失败和弱点，而是凡事相信人的好处。
丙． 我们是在相信我们的人面前得到力量的。
有一天我们站在上帝面前，上帝不会问我们听了多少道，却会问我们行了多少爱！
Pastoral Prayer:
O almighty God, from whom every good prayer comes, and who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and supplication, deliver us, when we draw nigh to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thought and kindled affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth.
In this time of global economic recession we pray for patience of endurance. Experts predict that the recovery time may take months to a year or two. This is scary and we pray for your peace that can drive away fear. As more and more people are being laid off, and more and more people are desperately looking for jobs, we pray Lord that you would open up the resources so that they can find what they look for. We know many of our parishioners are seeking jobs. Give them guidance and directions that they know where to get hold of their opportunity. And when it takes time for them to see results, let them not be in despair but fill their hearts with hope and perseverance.
O Lord, open our eyes, that we may see the needs of others. Open our hearts, that they need not be without help. Let us not be afraid to defend the weak because of the strong, not afraid to defend the poor because of the rich. Show us where love and hope are needed, and use us to bring them to those places. Open our eyes and ears, that this day we may do some work of peace for you.
We pray for the new leadership of this church. We are thankful that new council is formed, and new ministries are starting out. We pray for the new Sunday school English adult class led by Brother Miguel Stack. We look forward to the young adults having more opportunity of receiving spiritual nourishment in this new program. We pray for the new series of home fellowship, where upon a systematic Bible study and discipleship training course will be launched. We are thankful that younger Sunday School children are having good religious training and they are presenting what they’ve learned and share with us through their songs in the service. We are excited about all these and many other programs and ask that God will bless our leaders to continue equipping our members in this meaningful way.
We are thankful Lord for keeping our parishioners safe during their travel. We are happy that the family of Joe Wong and Xu Dunqi have finished their vacation and are worshipping with us again in the service. As we travel in a world that sometimes seems a trackless, hostile wilderness, we ask that your Spirit sustain, encourage, and enable us to go on.
Let us recite the Lord’s Prayer now…
Amen.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Sermon Date: 2009/3/15
DATE: 2009/3/15
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 28:18-20
SERMON: Who should go out into the world?
講道題目: 誰要出去進入世界?
By now you should have been very familiar to the words I use when pronouncing the benediction. “Go out into the world in peace…” These words have a lot to say about you as a member of the church. A church does not cease to exist when the benediction is pronounced Sunday morning and the congregation leaves the sanctuary for home and return to the routine activities of the week.
(1) A church is as real when she is scattered as when she is gathered. She is as real when she is an invisible corporate body as when she is a visible congregation worshipping inside a beautiful building.
(2) When the church is scattered, when she is invisible, she is doing the work to which Christ sends her. This is implicit in Christ’s analogy of his disciples as salt: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”(Matt. 5:13) and seed: “The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one.”(Matt. 13:38) Salt and seed are useless in their gathered form. When they are put to use they are scattered, and they disappear—salt into food, seed into soil.
(3) Awareness and acceptance of this reality are pressing needs among believers today. Most of our thinking, talking, planning, and programming presupposes the church in her gathered, visible, corporate form. Her influence in the world is measured on this basis by result-oriented and result-obsessed administrators, and failure to see “success” in these terms intimidates and discourages the whole church.
(4) This inadequate view of the church and her mission should be readjusted to the right understanding of the great commission.
I. The focus of the commission traditionally has been on the word “go.” The emphasis, the challenge, the pressure, the mandate has been “go!”
(a) The measure of a congregation’s commitment in mission has been the number of people who have gone out into the world to preach and teach in a far off land, or it has been the amount given to those who go out into far off land to preach and teach.
(b) The word “go” has been identified almost exclusively with a relatively few professionals (the missionaries), who take specialized training for a work somewhere else. Generally speaking lands beyond an ocean have been thought of as the primary mission field, the place where those who are sent out into the world “go”.
(c) “Go” is not the only big word, the mandate, in the great commission. Nor was it intended that a relatively few “professional missionaries” be the only ones to take it seriously, unless we assume it was intended only for the Eleven. The mandate in the great commission is “make disciples…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded.” The measure of our response is in terms of making disciples, not the number of converts or baptisms which are recorded in our book.
II. The word “go” as it is used in the great commission (Matt. 28:19) is for all the people of God, as demonstrated in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And in Acts 8:1, 4. “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria…Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
(a) The word “go” is addressed to all the peoples of God with reference to their dispersion. It is as if Jesus said, “Go back out into the world” or “Wherever you are…make disciples.”
(b) Here is the exciting strategy of our Lord Jesus Christ. He scatters his church like salt and seed everywhere to accomplish his purposes. And everywhere she is dispersed she is enlisting and teaching followers of Christ. This is the work of the church, and it involves every single member.
(c) You are not alone, for Christ has promised to be with you with all authority. Christ has equipped you his servant with all that you need to do his work in the person of the Holy Spirit.
III. Why are you there? Is it not to make disciples?
(a) As a witness to Jesus Christ you are to share his reconciling, redemptive love. As an ambassador of Christ you are to beseech those nearby, in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to God. You are there to share all you know and have experienced with others, that they might receive the benefits of the love of God for the world and conform to God’s will.
(b) This is something each and every one of you can do. As you learn you transmit your knowledge to another; as you grow you share your life with another. Think of the network of believers at any given moment scattered everywhere. Literally encircling the earth, penetrating all the institutions like salt in food, like seed in soil.
(c) In the economy of God every believer is called to full time service for Jesus Christ. You should accept your daily task as your holy vocation and accept the place you are in as the place where you are to do it. The work of the ministry belongs to all believers, and those who are professionals, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers, are to equip them for this work. Paul said, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received…But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men…It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Eph. 4:1-12)
Who should go out into the world? You and I. Each and every one called by our Lord Jesus Christ. What are we to do when we go there? We make disciples for Christ. Amen..
Sermon Synopsis:
讲道大纲
一個教會並不是在主日崇拜祝福後散會就不再存在的。
（1） 教會在分散時和聚集時都是同樣真實地存在著。
（2） 當教會分散時，她是隱形地做基督要她作鹽作種籽的工作。
（3） 我們設定教會工作只限於有形的看得見的事工。
（4） 這個不完整的設定，須由大使命的真義去改正。
I． 以往我們把大使命的焦點放在那個【去】字。
甲． 以往我們捐錢和派人【去】世界外面傳福音。
乙． 【去】成為了海外宣教士的任務。
丙． 【去】不是大使命的唯一中心。【誰】和【做甚麼】才是。
II． 【去】是指所有神的子民都要去。
甲．【去】是對所有分散的神的子民說的。
乙．耶穌把他的教會分散在地上，作鹽作種籽來完成他的旨意。
丙．你不會孤單，因為主把權柄賜給了你。
III． 【去】是使人做主門徒。
甲． 作為主的見證人，你可以與人分享主救贖的愛。
乙． 這是每一個人都可以做的事。
丙． 神預算所有信徒都是全時間的牧者。誰要去？你和我！去做甚麼？去叫人信耶穌。
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 28:18-20
SERMON: Who should go out into the world?
講道題目: 誰要出去進入世界?
By now you should have been very familiar to the words I use when pronouncing the benediction. “Go out into the world in peace…” These words have a lot to say about you as a member of the church. A church does not cease to exist when the benediction is pronounced Sunday morning and the congregation leaves the sanctuary for home and return to the routine activities of the week.
(1) A church is as real when she is scattered as when she is gathered. She is as real when she is an invisible corporate body as when she is a visible congregation worshipping inside a beautiful building.
(2) When the church is scattered, when she is invisible, she is doing the work to which Christ sends her. This is implicit in Christ’s analogy of his disciples as salt: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”(Matt. 5:13) and seed: “The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one.”(Matt. 13:38) Salt and seed are useless in their gathered form. When they are put to use they are scattered, and they disappear—salt into food, seed into soil.
(3) Awareness and acceptance of this reality are pressing needs among believers today. Most of our thinking, talking, planning, and programming presupposes the church in her gathered, visible, corporate form. Her influence in the world is measured on this basis by result-oriented and result-obsessed administrators, and failure to see “success” in these terms intimidates and discourages the whole church.
(4) This inadequate view of the church and her mission should be readjusted to the right understanding of the great commission.
I. The focus of the commission traditionally has been on the word “go.” The emphasis, the challenge, the pressure, the mandate has been “go!”
(a) The measure of a congregation’s commitment in mission has been the number of people who have gone out into the world to preach and teach in a far off land, or it has been the amount given to those who go out into far off land to preach and teach.
(b) The word “go” has been identified almost exclusively with a relatively few professionals (the missionaries), who take specialized training for a work somewhere else. Generally speaking lands beyond an ocean have been thought of as the primary mission field, the place where those who are sent out into the world “go”.
(c) “Go” is not the only big word, the mandate, in the great commission. Nor was it intended that a relatively few “professional missionaries” be the only ones to take it seriously, unless we assume it was intended only for the Eleven. The mandate in the great commission is “make disciples…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded.” The measure of our response is in terms of making disciples, not the number of converts or baptisms which are recorded in our book.
II. The word “go” as it is used in the great commission (Matt. 28:19) is for all the people of God, as demonstrated in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And in Acts 8:1, 4. “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria…Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
(a) The word “go” is addressed to all the peoples of God with reference to their dispersion. It is as if Jesus said, “Go back out into the world” or “Wherever you are…make disciples.”
(b) Here is the exciting strategy of our Lord Jesus Christ. He scatters his church like salt and seed everywhere to accomplish his purposes. And everywhere she is dispersed she is enlisting and teaching followers of Christ. This is the work of the church, and it involves every single member.
(c) You are not alone, for Christ has promised to be with you with all authority. Christ has equipped you his servant with all that you need to do his work in the person of the Holy Spirit.
III. Why are you there? Is it not to make disciples?
(a) As a witness to Jesus Christ you are to share his reconciling, redemptive love. As an ambassador of Christ you are to beseech those nearby, in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to God. You are there to share all you know and have experienced with others, that they might receive the benefits of the love of God for the world and conform to God’s will.
(b) This is something each and every one of you can do. As you learn you transmit your knowledge to another; as you grow you share your life with another. Think of the network of believers at any given moment scattered everywhere. Literally encircling the earth, penetrating all the institutions like salt in food, like seed in soil.
(c) In the economy of God every believer is called to full time service for Jesus Christ. You should accept your daily task as your holy vocation and accept the place you are in as the place where you are to do it. The work of the ministry belongs to all believers, and those who are professionals, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers, are to equip them for this work. Paul said, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received…But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men…It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Eph. 4:1-12)
Who should go out into the world? You and I. Each and every one called by our Lord Jesus Christ. What are we to do when we go there? We make disciples for Christ. Amen..
Sermon Synopsis:
讲道大纲
一個教會並不是在主日崇拜祝福後散會就不再存在的。
（1） 教會在分散時和聚集時都是同樣真實地存在著。
（2） 當教會分散時，她是隱形地做基督要她作鹽作種籽的工作。
（3） 我們設定教會工作只限於有形的看得見的事工。
（4） 這個不完整的設定，須由大使命的真義去改正。
I． 以往我們把大使命的焦點放在那個【去】字。
甲． 以往我們捐錢和派人【去】世界外面傳福音。
乙． 【去】成為了海外宣教士的任務。
丙． 【去】不是大使命的唯一中心。【誰】和【做甚麼】才是。
II． 【去】是指所有神的子民都要去。
甲．【去】是對所有分散的神的子民說的。
乙．耶穌把他的教會分散在地上，作鹽作種籽來完成他的旨意。
丙．你不會孤單，因為主把權柄賜給了你。
III． 【去】是使人做主門徒。
甲． 作為主的見證人，你可以與人分享主救贖的愛。
乙． 這是每一個人都可以做的事。
丙． 神預算所有信徒都是全時間的牧者。誰要去？你和我！去做甚麼？去叫人信耶穌。
Friday, March 6, 2009
sermon 2009/3/8
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 6:5-9
SERMON: When You Pray
講道題目: 你们祷告的时候
Lent is the time for praying and fasting. We often want to ask why praying? Why fasting? Jesus never answered the question why but always answered the question when. Jesus often says when you pray…when you fast… That means praying and fasting are not questions of should we? Or would we? But they are questions of how we can do praying and fasting when we try.
I. We pray because we cannot help to do otherwise. We have a basic need as real as our need for food. Not to eat is silly. It is likewise silly not to pray, for as Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone” (Matt. 4:4). We never forget to eat when it is time to eat. But we often forget to pray when it is time to pray. Fasting is a way to remind us, do we yearn for praying as much as we yearn for food? If so we would easily skip one meal time and devote it to praying. No one can keep himself from the innate longing to be in touch with God, to know him to be close to him, and to seek to do His will. God searches us out; he yearns for us as we yearn for him.
II. Jesus’ disciples made the simple request, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). That is our plea too. Jesus leads us into the wonder of prayer, ever deepening, ever widening, ever growing as we persist and as we mature. Childish prayers are a good beginning, but as grown-ups we should know how to pray as mature men and women, never satisfied with merely asking for favours. We are content only when we can offer our total selves to God as a living sacrifice. This we do, first, through prayer, and secondly, we follow up our prayer with effective action.
III. Prayer is not an option in life. Prayer is not a panic button to press only when in extreme trouble. Prayer is conversation with God, presenting ourselves honestly before God. Prayer is listening as we hear what God wants to tell us. Prayer is practicing the presence of God in every moment.
(a) Jesus revealed that God is a loving friend as well as eternal judge. So prayer should be as easy and as natural and as irresistible as conversation with a friend whom one knows and trusts.
(b) One can pray anywhere and at any time, but it is only in the fellowship of faith that we hear God’s Word and respond to God’s initial acts of undeserved kindness. We Christians are protected from our whims of devotion by regular worship through the life of the church.
IV. There is much about prayer that we do not understand. Most puzzling is the question many people ask, “Why are my prayers not answered?” We dare not assume that there is only one answer to prayer, the answer we want to hear. God does not always deal with us that way. Nor do we give our children everything they ask for. Sometimes we must say “No.” Sometimes we must say, “Perhaps later, but not yet.” I believe that God does answer our every prayer, though it may not be in the way we expect or desire.
V. Surely God must yearn for conversation with us not only when we ask him for the necessities of life but also when we are thankful, when we are joyous, when we are filled with adoration and praise, and often when we must say we are sorry.
(a) The best way I know to begin to grow in the life of prayer is to pray for someone in particular who needs help. Pray for the sick, the afflicted, the troubled and the lonely. Quickly you will see how blessed, how fortunate you must be by comparison and how much more appropriate is your prayer of thanksgiving rather than one more request for yourself.
(b) It has been said that anyone who spends more time before a mirror than he spends on his knees in prayer is in love with himself. And that is a rejection of what the Christian religion is all about. The complication and troubles of life begin to get sorted out and straightened out when we can put God first, others second, and ourselves last.
This is not easy. But we can try. Here’s a good suggestion. 2009 Joint Mandarin Devotional Meeting will be held April 24-26 (Friday to Sunday) evenings 7:30 pm at the Emmanuel Alliance Church Ottawa. Theme title: “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed.” Theme speaker Rev. Felix Lau encourages us to enter into a program of fasting and praying relay which last 40 days starting from March 15 and ending on April 23. You can fast one meal per week. With another 20 people signing up one form we will cover every meal with a person praying and fasting for the devotional meeting. Please pray for personal need, church revival, families, seekers to the faith and all others that have specific needs when you fast. Please come to me after service for the sign up sheet. Amen
Sermon Synopsis:
Praying and fasting are not options but imperatives in this time of Lent.
I. We pray and fast because we cannot help to do otherwise.
II. We are content only when we can offer our total selves to God as a living sacrifice.
III. Prayer is practicing the presence of God in every moment.
IV. God does answer our every prayer, though it may not be in the way we expect or desire.
V. The complication and troubles of life begin to get sorted out and straightened out when we can put God first, others second, and ourselves last.
Let us enter into a program of fasting and praying relay which last 40 days starting from March 15 and ending on April 23. You can fast one meal per week. Please come to me for the sign up sheet.
讲道大纲
祷告和禁食是大斎节所强调，我们所须要做的事：
甲．我们祈祷禁食因为我们别无他法。
乙．我们心里没有满足除非我们把自己献上当作活祭。
丙．祷告是每时每刻与上帝同行。
丁．上帝必听祷告，虽然祂的答案不一定是我们想要的答案。
戊．我们的问题必得解决，如果我们把神放在第一，人第二，自己第三。
让我们实践一个40天连锁接力禁食祷告的活动。你可以一周禁食一餐，加上其他弟兄姊妹的努力，每天每餐都有人为培灵会祷告了。请向我索取签名表格。
Pastoral Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you fasted and prayed forty days in the wilderness, teach us how to pray in this time of Lent.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. We draw near to you with all holy reverence and confidence, coming as children to a father able and ready to help us as we pray together and for others. Enable us and others to glorify you in all that we do as we live and work in the creation that displays your power and mercy, and be pleased to dispose all things to your own glory.
Your kingdom come. We pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.
Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. We pray that you, by your grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to your will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. We pray that of your free gift we may receive a sufficient portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy your blessing with them.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. We pray that you, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins—and we are encouraged to ask this because by your grace we are able from the heart to forgive others.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. We pray that you would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.
We pray for our parish concerns. As the 2009 Joint Mandarin Devotional Meeting will be held April 24-26 with entitled: “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed” help us to enter into a program of fasting and praying relay starting from March 15 and ending on April 23. Encourage us to fast at least one meal per week. While we fast inspire us to pray for personal need, for church revival, for families, for seekers to the faith and all others that have specific needs.
We pray for our parishioners. We thank you for looking after Lin Li Ru during the past months when she is recuperating from her heart condition. We thank you for keeping Lai Wei Chee and her husband Richard healthy and strong and that they are starting a restaurant business again in the spring. We thank you for watching over Joe Wong and his wife En Wei while they are having vacation in Hai Nan Dao for a month. We pray that you will watch over XuDunQi and his wife ZhengXingFei as they are leaving town with their son’s family for vacation for two weeks. We pray for Cui Guang Ming as he is doing some work in China now. We pray for his wife Ge Qin and son who are continuing to work and study in Canada. We continue to pray for Peter Lee as his Parkinson is giving him a hard time but is doing quit well lately.
We take our encouragement in prayer from you only, and in our prayers we praise you, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to you. Let us recite the Lord’s prayer now…
Amen.
SERMON: When You Pray
講道題目: 你们祷告的时候
Lent is the time for praying and fasting. We often want to ask why praying? Why fasting? Jesus never answered the question why but always answered the question when. Jesus often says when you pray…when you fast… That means praying and fasting are not questions of should we? Or would we? But they are questions of how we can do praying and fasting when we try.
I. We pray because we cannot help to do otherwise. We have a basic need as real as our need for food. Not to eat is silly. It is likewise silly not to pray, for as Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone” (Matt. 4:4). We never forget to eat when it is time to eat. But we often forget to pray when it is time to pray. Fasting is a way to remind us, do we yearn for praying as much as we yearn for food? If so we would easily skip one meal time and devote it to praying. No one can keep himself from the innate longing to be in touch with God, to know him to be close to him, and to seek to do His will. God searches us out; he yearns for us as we yearn for him.
II. Jesus’ disciples made the simple request, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). That is our plea too. Jesus leads us into the wonder of prayer, ever deepening, ever widening, ever growing as we persist and as we mature. Childish prayers are a good beginning, but as grown-ups we should know how to pray as mature men and women, never satisfied with merely asking for favours. We are content only when we can offer our total selves to God as a living sacrifice. This we do, first, through prayer, and secondly, we follow up our prayer with effective action.
III. Prayer is not an option in life. Prayer is not a panic button to press only when in extreme trouble. Prayer is conversation with God, presenting ourselves honestly before God. Prayer is listening as we hear what God wants to tell us. Prayer is practicing the presence of God in every moment.
(a) Jesus revealed that God is a loving friend as well as eternal judge. So prayer should be as easy and as natural and as irresistible as conversation with a friend whom one knows and trusts.
(b) One can pray anywhere and at any time, but it is only in the fellowship of faith that we hear God’s Word and respond to God’s initial acts of undeserved kindness. We Christians are protected from our whims of devotion by regular worship through the life of the church.
IV. There is much about prayer that we do not understand. Most puzzling is the question many people ask, “Why are my prayers not answered?” We dare not assume that there is only one answer to prayer, the answer we want to hear. God does not always deal with us that way. Nor do we give our children everything they ask for. Sometimes we must say “No.” Sometimes we must say, “Perhaps later, but not yet.” I believe that God does answer our every prayer, though it may not be in the way we expect or desire.
V. Surely God must yearn for conversation with us not only when we ask him for the necessities of life but also when we are thankful, when we are joyous, when we are filled with adoration and praise, and often when we must say we are sorry.
(a) The best way I know to begin to grow in the life of prayer is to pray for someone in particular who needs help. Pray for the sick, the afflicted, the troubled and the lonely. Quickly you will see how blessed, how fortunate you must be by comparison and how much more appropriate is your prayer of thanksgiving rather than one more request for yourself.
(b) It has been said that anyone who spends more time before a mirror than he spends on his knees in prayer is in love with himself. And that is a rejection of what the Christian religion is all about. The complication and troubles of life begin to get sorted out and straightened out when we can put God first, others second, and ourselves last.
This is not easy. But we can try. Here’s a good suggestion. 2009 Joint Mandarin Devotional Meeting will be held April 24-26 (Friday to Sunday) evenings 7:30 pm at the Emmanuel Alliance Church Ottawa. Theme title: “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed.” Theme speaker Rev. Felix Lau encourages us to enter into a program of fasting and praying relay which last 40 days starting from March 15 and ending on April 23. You can fast one meal per week. With another 20 people signing up one form we will cover every meal with a person praying and fasting for the devotional meeting. Please pray for personal need, church revival, families, seekers to the faith and all others that have specific needs when you fast. Please come to me after service for the sign up sheet. Amen
Sermon Synopsis:
Praying and fasting are not options but imperatives in this time of Lent.
I. We pray and fast because we cannot help to do otherwise.
II. We are content only when we can offer our total selves to God as a living sacrifice.
III. Prayer is practicing the presence of God in every moment.
IV. God does answer our every prayer, though it may not be in the way we expect or desire.
V. The complication and troubles of life begin to get sorted out and straightened out when we can put God first, others second, and ourselves last.
Let us enter into a program of fasting and praying relay which last 40 days starting from March 15 and ending on April 23. You can fast one meal per week. Please come to me for the sign up sheet.
讲道大纲
祷告和禁食是大斎节所强调，我们所须要做的事：
甲．我们祈祷禁食因为我们别无他法。
乙．我们心里没有满足除非我们把自己献上当作活祭。
丙．祷告是每时每刻与上帝同行。
丁．上帝必听祷告，虽然祂的答案不一定是我们想要的答案。
戊．我们的问题必得解决，如果我们把神放在第一，人第二，自己第三。
让我们实践一个40天连锁接力禁食祷告的活动。你可以一周禁食一餐，加上其他弟兄姊妹的努力，每天每餐都有人为培灵会祷告了。请向我索取签名表格。
Pastoral Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you fasted and prayed forty days in the wilderness, teach us how to pray in this time of Lent.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. We draw near to you with all holy reverence and confidence, coming as children to a father able and ready to help us as we pray together and for others. Enable us and others to glorify you in all that we do as we live and work in the creation that displays your power and mercy, and be pleased to dispose all things to your own glory.
Your kingdom come. We pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.
Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. We pray that you, by your grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to your will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. We pray that of your free gift we may receive a sufficient portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy your blessing with them.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. We pray that you, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins—and we are encouraged to ask this because by your grace we are able from the heart to forgive others.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. We pray that you would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.
We pray for our parish concerns. As the 2009 Joint Mandarin Devotional Meeting will be held April 24-26 with entitled: “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed” help us to enter into a program of fasting and praying relay starting from March 15 and ending on April 23. Encourage us to fast at least one meal per week. While we fast inspire us to pray for personal need, for church revival, for families, for seekers to the faith and all others that have specific needs.
We pray for our parishioners. We thank you for looking after Lin Li Ru during the past months when she is recuperating from her heart condition. We thank you for keeping Lai Wei Chee and her husband Richard healthy and strong and that they are starting a restaurant business again in the spring. We thank you for watching over Joe Wong and his wife En Wei while they are having vacation in Hai Nan Dao for a month. We pray that you will watch over XuDunQi and his wife ZhengXingFei as they are leaving town with their son’s family for vacation for two weeks. We pray for Cui Guang Ming as he is doing some work in China now. We pray for his wife Ge Qin and son who are continuing to work and study in Canada. We continue to pray for Peter Lee as his Parkinson is giving him a hard time but is doing quit well lately.
We take our encouragement in prayer from you only, and in our prayers we praise you, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to you. Let us recite the Lord’s prayer now…
Amen.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/3/8
DATE: 2009/3/8
本周默想分享
耶稣说： 虚心的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。意思是说：肯虚心承认自己是灵性贫穷的人是有福的，因为天国，即灵性丰富的地方，是他们的。在路加福音第六章20-26节，耶稣更直接地说：你们贫穷的人有福了，因为神的国是你们的！你们饥饿的人有福了，因为你们将要饱足！你们哀哭的人有福了，因为你们将要嬉笑！人为人子恨恶你们，拒绝你们，辱骂你们，弃掉你们的名，以为是恶的，你们就有福了。当那日，你们要欢喜跳跃，因为你们在天上的赏赐是大的！他们的祖宗待先知也是这样。很明显这些话是对信耶稣的人讲的。因为信耶稣的人都是灵性贫穷的人。
但对於灵性丰富的人，耶稣有另一翻话对他们说。耶稣说：但你们富足的人有祸了，因为你们受过你们的安慰！你们饱足的人有祸了，因为你们将要饥饿！你们嬉笑的人有祸了，因为你们将要哀恸哭泣！人都说你们好的时候，你们就有祸了，因为他们的祖宗待假先知也是这样！很明显这些话是对不信耶稣的人，比如那些法利赛人讲的。
法利赛人所信的上帝和耶稣所信的上帝有一个很大的分别。法利赛人信的上帝是一个富足人的上帝，饱足人的上帝，嬉笑人的上帝，人都说他们是好人的上帝。但耶稣所信的上帝是一个贫穷人的上帝，饥饿人的上帝，哀哭人的上帝，被人恨恶，拒绝，辱骂，身败名裂的人的上帝。旧约时的真先知，就是这样被人对待的。
今天不少的信徒，去教会只想找那个富足人的上帝，饱足人的上帝，嬉笑人的上帝，灵性上被人称赞的人的上帝。他们不想找那个贫穷人的上帝，饥饿人的上帝，哀哭人的上帝，灵性上身败名裂的人的上帝。他们认为自己是强者，只能找那个配做强者的人的上帝。他们不能容忍，也不能接受一个弱者的上帝做他们的上帝。这样的信徒，一天不改变他们的上帝观，一天他们都不会找到耶稣所信的上帝的。
灵性贫穷的人有福了，REV.GERRY FULLER 领查经班的时候，曾说灵性贫穷的人就是承认自己是一个灵性破产的人。让我们在大斋节的期间，向神谦卑，忏悔，认罪。让我们放胆的，真诚的对神，也对人这样的说：我是一个灵性破产的人，你可以饶恕接纳我吗？
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Jesus says: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. What he means is this: Blessed are those who humbly admit they are spiritually poor, for the kingdom of heaven which is the dominion of spiritual richness belongs to them. In Luke 6:20-26, Jesus says it even more plainly. He says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.”Obviously these words were said to the people who believed in Jesus. They were people who were spiritually poor.
But for those who were spiritually rich, Jesus had some other words to say to them. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.”Obviously these words were spoken to those who did not believe in Jesus, like the Pharisees for instance.
The God the Pharisees believe and the God Jesus believes have a lot of difference. The Pharisees believe in a God who belongs to the rich, the well fed, the laughing, and the ones who are well spoken of. But Jesus believes in a God who belongs to the poor, the hungry, the weeping, the ones who are hated, excluded, and insulted, and the ones whose names are rejected as evil. In Old Testament times, the true prophets were treated like wise.
Today many believers go to church to find the God who belongs only to the rich, the well fed, the laughing and the ones who are well famed spiritually. They do not want to see the God who belongs to the poor, the hungry, the weeping and the ones who are spiritually incompetent. They think they are strong and deserve to have a God who is comparatively strong. They can not accept a God who belongs to the weak. Such believers will never find the God Jesus believes until they are willing to change their understanding of God.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. In one of our Bible study sessions Rev. Gerry Fuller paraphrased this line by saying this. Blessed are those who admit they are spiritually bankrupt. In this Lenten season, let us humble ourselves, repent our sins and ask God for forgiveness. Let us concede boldly but sincerely, both to God and to men and truthfully say, “I am spiritually bankrupt. Please forgive me. Will you please accept me?”
本周默想分享
耶稣说： 虚心的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。意思是说：肯虚心承认自己是灵性贫穷的人是有福的，因为天国，即灵性丰富的地方，是他们的。在路加福音第六章20-26节，耶稣更直接地说：你们贫穷的人有福了，因为神的国是你们的！你们饥饿的人有福了，因为你们将要饱足！你们哀哭的人有福了，因为你们将要嬉笑！人为人子恨恶你们，拒绝你们，辱骂你们，弃掉你们的名，以为是恶的，你们就有福了。当那日，你们要欢喜跳跃，因为你们在天上的赏赐是大的！他们的祖宗待先知也是这样。很明显这些话是对信耶稣的人讲的。因为信耶稣的人都是灵性贫穷的人。
但对於灵性丰富的人，耶稣有另一翻话对他们说。耶稣说：但你们富足的人有祸了，因为你们受过你们的安慰！你们饱足的人有祸了，因为你们将要饥饿！你们嬉笑的人有祸了，因为你们将要哀恸哭泣！人都说你们好的时候，你们就有祸了，因为他们的祖宗待假先知也是这样！很明显这些话是对不信耶稣的人，比如那些法利赛人讲的。
法利赛人所信的上帝和耶稣所信的上帝有一个很大的分别。法利赛人信的上帝是一个富足人的上帝，饱足人的上帝，嬉笑人的上帝，人都说他们是好人的上帝。但耶稣所信的上帝是一个贫穷人的上帝，饥饿人的上帝，哀哭人的上帝，被人恨恶，拒绝，辱骂，身败名裂的人的上帝。旧约时的真先知，就是这样被人对待的。
今天不少的信徒，去教会只想找那个富足人的上帝，饱足人的上帝，嬉笑人的上帝，灵性上被人称赞的人的上帝。他们不想找那个贫穷人的上帝，饥饿人的上帝，哀哭人的上帝，灵性上身败名裂的人的上帝。他们认为自己是强者，只能找那个配做强者的人的上帝。他们不能容忍，也不能接受一个弱者的上帝做他们的上帝。这样的信徒，一天不改变他们的上帝观，一天他们都不会找到耶稣所信的上帝的。
灵性贫穷的人有福了，REV.GERRY FULLER 领查经班的时候，曾说灵性贫穷的人就是承认自己是一个灵性破产的人。让我们在大斋节的期间，向神谦卑，忏悔，认罪。让我们放胆的，真诚的对神，也对人这样的说：我是一个灵性破产的人，你可以饶恕接纳我吗？
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Jesus says: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. What he means is this: Blessed are those who humbly admit they are spiritually poor, for the kingdom of heaven which is the dominion of spiritual richness belongs to them. In Luke 6:20-26, Jesus says it even more plainly. He says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.”Obviously these words were said to the people who believed in Jesus. They were people who were spiritually poor.
But for those who were spiritually rich, Jesus had some other words to say to them. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.”Obviously these words were spoken to those who did not believe in Jesus, like the Pharisees for instance.
The God the Pharisees believe and the God Jesus believes have a lot of difference. The Pharisees believe in a God who belongs to the rich, the well fed, the laughing, and the ones who are well spoken of. But Jesus believes in a God who belongs to the poor, the hungry, the weeping, the ones who are hated, excluded, and insulted, and the ones whose names are rejected as evil. In Old Testament times, the true prophets were treated like wise.
Today many believers go to church to find the God who belongs only to the rich, the well fed, the laughing and the ones who are well famed spiritually. They do not want to see the God who belongs to the poor, the hungry, the weeping and the ones who are spiritually incompetent. They think they are strong and deserve to have a God who is comparatively strong. They can not accept a God who belongs to the weak. Such believers will never find the God Jesus believes until they are willing to change their understanding of God.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. In one of our Bible study sessions Rev. Gerry Fuller paraphrased this line by saying this. Blessed are those who admit they are spiritually bankrupt. In this Lenten season, let us humble ourselves, repent our sins and ask God for forgiveness. Let us concede boldly but sincerely, both to God and to men and truthfully say, “I am spiritually bankrupt. Please forgive me. Will you please accept me?”
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